The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-12-18
PEEP IN TURKISH HAREMS
Mrs. Lew Wallace Opens the Doors of the
Forbidden Rooms for Public Benefit.
Shady Gardens Where Nightingales Sing and
Rushing Waters Cool the Air-Bed-Pil-
lows of Silk, with Tassels of Gold.


man Empire, but it is said know not how
trulv-thas 10000 are annually bought, the
iareer norton women, who become inmates OF
the Turkish harems; and this mingling with the
fsires. race has subdued shs original ugliness of
the Tartar.
There are boundless possibilities in their ex-
change of circumstances Each one may be-
come an odalisque, the mother OF princes. even
Sultana For by the strange code of Moslem,
the Sultan must marry a slave, one who has
been bought and sold, and the lowest on whom
he casts passing look has hope of such high
destiny.
The Turk can have four lawful wives. though
few have than one. I'VE copy Father
Jacob" they plead and if you hint at forbidden
numbers: 1--WE are like Solomon the wise. aud
David. his father.
No Oriental woman makes secret her wish to
marry any more than the widow OF Moab in the
barley fields among the cleaners OF Bethlehem.
and her prayer is yet the prayer OF Rachel:
'.Give me children else die"
With this underfow of feeling, Caucasian
women willingly leave their wretched homes,
and when ships touch at the coasts, come to the
travellers and implore them TO carry them away
as servants. They have their brothers
handsome and fearless as leopards-marched off
10 service in foreign armies. Their costumes OF
Persian EN- broIderies belted with siloco girdles,
their sharp cimeters, erameled with gold. dazzle
the sight. The women long to follow and tempt
fate in the city which they have heard lies like
bird afoat the waters of the Golden Horn
Those young girls have little tenderness to re-
member. In garment they have herded
sheep and carried water jars on bruised shout
ders in the fierce heat of summer. and, rolled IN
skins on the mud floor of a smoky Gen, they
have shvered in winds blowing across glaciers
which never melt.
fo~ had
freedom in their own hills; they want to thrust
their bare feet into velvet slippers spangled with
gold, and Toll on soft divans in rooms lined with
bright marbles
The trade is carried on by Jews, and is q
necessary part of polygamy. The slaves enter
better conditions than they leave usually
kindly treated. and by law free at the end of
seven years The whole system is patriarcha1,
and was ancient before the coming of the Father
of the Faithful.
Contracts for marriage oftenest made by
the mother of tine bride, who sometimes does
see her flames till she is robed for the ceremony,
and old maids unknown in the empire where
maids are maria geable at sixteen younger
Wedding festivities sometimes last a whole
week. The men, in their rooms: smoke sol
EMMY and sip coffee. Laughter" says their
proverb sis for women and children" And
merriiy laughter rings through the screened
doors before the apartments of the women.
Their gayety overfows in jests and playful
tricks trivial and meaningless to us but de-
ghtful to them Charms are practiced. for
tunes foretold, and dreams, In which they have
riage is delayed on account of bad omen or
unlucky dream.
The presents Of the wealthy are Jewels. furs
and embroideres, shawls from the goats of Thi-
bet, silks of Indian dyes, rich coronation
robes; scarfs of Mecca. woven of pure white silk,
shot with silver. The largest garments
strung cords stretched against the walls of
the bridal chant er A wreath of artificial
flowers borders its ceiling, and the draperies be-
low make vari-colored lining, gay as the
shawl-lired tent of Haroun-Al- Raschid. All is
arranged with the unerring eye for color which
distinguishes the Oriental. and the work goes
with intervals of feasting, eating sugar-plunas
and wild, antastc music, at once harsh and
sorrowful.
The bride is radiant in white or rose pink,
wrought with gold; her nails and finger tips are
dyed with henua and an amulet of corneian,
inscribed with a verse from the Koran, is hung
round the neck-a defense against the evil eye
When the hour comes for the betrothed
strangers to each other face to face for the
first time, her best friend kisses the bride be.
tween the eyebrows, removes her veil and
spreads it on the floor. The bridegroom kneels
upon it and offers the touching prayer appointed
by Lord Mahomet regarded as the most accept
able that can be addressed to the Deity on this
OCCASION.
The word harem means the holy or sanctifed,
and in general sense is given to any spot pecu
liarly hallowej. L was long while learning
that the name applies TO tie spacious inclosed
court about mosques; not barred prison. but
consecrated ground. revered a sanctuary.
However blank and bare the remainder OF the
house may be-and usually is-the forbidden
rooms we'll furnished according to moslem
fancy. in which is copied, as far as possible,
their ideal paradise-an adorable palace with a
thousand windows, and before every window a
sparkling fountain.
Free light abundant space. shady gardens
where the nightingale sings among the roses
and rushing waters cool the air. These are the
Injuries which foreshadow the golden pleasure
fields kept for the faithful by the houris.
The women, old and young, Assem- Bile in .he
sacred rooms, with their children and attend
ants. and they are the center of the world to the
housekeeping Turk who cares nothing for travel
and never emigrates. His spare time and money
spent there, and the wife is. in the tender
Arabian phrase the keeper of her husbands
soul.
Turkish houses are much alike The entrance
is through double door, large enough for
horses and carriage. Beyond it is a spring
screen, suspended like gate, which hides the
vestibule, or court when the street door opens.
Two outside staircases appear, leading to
the mons apartments, the other to tho wom-
ems. At the first landing the visitor finds the
black aga or guard. before the door of the
apartment to which only one man is admitted,
and which is forbidden 20 the sight and thought
of all men save that one.
There is special place to eat or sleep, A
low divan, running round the wall or each
room Is made bed by night the clothes being
kept In presses by day. In imperial palaces the
coverlets are of Lahore stuffs, embroidered with
colored silks interviewer with pearls and tur.
quoises, the sheets are fine cotton, barred with
stripes of silk like satin ribbon. The pillows
have silk and gold. and during summer mosquito
nets of Tripoli eauze. spotted with gold
pended by gilt hoops over the sleeper. Nothing
gayer or daintier can be imagined Formerly
cashmere shawls served spreads" for the
beds of the rich.
The small round mirror. framed in velvet. is
always at hand for toilet use, and the laying on
of cosmetics is so deep that it is named face
writing Turkish women understand the arts
of repairing the ravages of time, and their toilet
service is varied and effective.
Meals were served bright brass trays of
various sizes, and piece Of bread serves as
spoon. knife and fork, so deity used that there
is neither spilliug crum bling about the low
table beside which cushions ranged in tead of
chairs. Exquisite neatness prevails, and many
attendants in waiting.
Every Turkish harem has it's bath rooms,
three In number, if the is well-to-do.
The first is square. chiefly of marble fin the Sui
tons palace, of Egyptian alabasterl, lighted
from glass dome. A large reservoir built
against the outer wall, with n opening into the
BATH contains the water. half Of which is heated
by furnace below it. Hot air pipes throw in
tense heat into the room fountains lead the water